Saint-Étienne & Irvin Cardona: a Stéphanois Love Story

Saint-Étienne striker Irvin Cardona scored a brace in a breathless 3-3 draw against his former side Stade Brestois to clinch a point from the jaws of defeat - one that could be vital in the battle to keep Les Verts in Ligue 1 McDonald's next season. Despite a costly early mistake that led to Brest’s opener, the 26-year-old bounced back with two goals  - a flicked header at the near post, followed by a delicate lob over Marco Bizot.

"I hope that third goal will count for something," he told DAZN post-match. "There’s a bit of frustration because we did a lot of good things today. We come away with mixed feelings. There are still more matches to come, and they’ll all be like finals."

Monegasque beginnings & breaking through at Brest 

Irvin Cardona’s career has always danced between promise and perseverance. A product of the AS Monaco academy, the forward made his Ligue 1 McDonald's debut at just 18, but found regular opportunities hard to come by in a star-studded squad. It was during a successful loan spell at Belgian side Cercle Brugge in 2017–18 where he scored 15 goals in 31 matches helping the club earn promotion to Belgium’s top flight.

A move to Stade Brestois in 2019 offered a return to France and the chance to prove his worth  in Ligue 1 McDonald's. There, Cardona developed a reputation as a versatile and technically gifted attacker, capable of playing across the front line and scoring in spectacular fashion including a memorable acrobatic volley that earned a Puskás Award nomination in 2020.
 

An instant fan-favourite at the chaudron

In 2023, Cardona made the move to the Bundesliga where he signed for FC Augsburg. That leap, however, didn’t quite stick - and soon, Saint-Étienne would come calling for their second bid to get promoted out of Ligue 2 BKT. In January 2023, he joined Les Verts on loan and played a key role in a season that ended in promotion via the play-offs against FC Metz. In 22 appearances the Frenchman would score 10 goals - including an unforgettable last-minute lob against Bordeaux from range which was one of the division's goals of the season.

After returning to his parent club, he would be shipped out on loan for the 2024-2025 season at Spanish club RCD Espanyol. Yet he would encounter difficulty settling in, but made 17 appearances and scored two goals. But when Sainté came calling again, Cardona couldn't resist the temptation to wear the green shirt once more - signing in January on loan with an option to buy. Now he wants to help his side stay up in the league at the first attempt, despite a difficult first half of the season which saw a switch of manager from Olivier Dall'Oglio to Eirik Horneland.

"We’ll need everyone for this battle until the end," he said. "We’re going to have to fight, all together. We’re showing character and we’ll need to keep doing that until the end of the season," said Cardona. With a massive Rhône-Alpes derby looming, the forward knows the stakes — and the need to maintain high standards and intensity. "We do what the coach asks of us. Sometimes it’s hard, it demands a lot physically. But we have what it takes to keep pushing. We’ll give it everything."

A huge test against Lyon awaits in the derby next Sunday, with Les Verts currently sitting 17th and in plenty of danger in the relegation zone. Three points currently separate Sainté and Le Havre in the relegation play-off zone, with five games left of the season to try and remedy the situation.

Photo Credit: LFP & Classic Football Shirts

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>>ASSE & Brest share the spoils in breathless 3-3 draw